Three new locations for The Gym Group

The Gym Group has announced plans to open three new locations next month - in Ashford, Bournemouth and Luton - in a move which will expand its UK estate to 23 fitness clubs.

Matrix will provide more than 200 pieces of resistance and cardiovascular equipment at each of the new sites, which will span between 9,000sq ft (836sq m) and 15,000sq ft (1,394sq m) in size.

Ashford, Bournemouth and Luton will also offer members a range of virtual classes, with the low-cost gym chain already trialling 24-hour virtual pilates and yoga at four other clubs.

The Gym Group opened its first club in Hounslow, west London, in July 2008 and is aiming to launch an additional 11 sites this year to complement its existing portfolio of 20 locations.

John Treharne, the group's CEO, said: "Over the next few years the fitness sector will experience more segmentation. Brands will have to work harder to establish themselves in the market and attract new members.

"Moving forward, low cost providers will continue to flourish. In 2007, McFit had opened eight gyms in Berlin. Today the city supports 18. In the US, Planet Fitness, the world's largest low-cost gym brand opened 447 gyms between 1992 and 2011. It always surprises me that nobody established a real budget offering in the UK sooner!"

To read opinions on the arrival of virtual yoga and pilates classes in the UK from more industry experts, see Health Club Management 2012 Issue 3, p43

Details: www.thegymgroup.com